PVAMU ousts SU to reach SWAC final

Prairie View will get the chance to win a third consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball title today after prevailing on a wild and gritty Sunday in which the Panthers took two games by one run from traditional powerhouse Southern on the Jaguars’ own field.

Adrian Canales froze Michael Gavion for a full-count strikeout, with a runner on second base, as the Panthers beat Southern 15-14 in a zany second game at Lee-Hines Field.

And Josh Lara struck out 11 in a complete-game gem, finishing by getting SU’s Frazier Hall, a .400 hitter, to fly out to center field with Gavion on third base, as PV forced the second game 5-4 — after trailing 4-0 in the fourth — earlier Sunday.

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Obama Warns GOP "Lay Off My Wife"

Sen. Barack Obama ripped into a Republican ad today that targets comments made by his wife, Michelle, and called the GOP tactic "low class" and "detestable."

The senator and his wife discuss the race for the White House. The Illinois senator told "Good Morning America" that he expects hardball tactics from the Republicans if he becomes the Democratic presidential nominee.

"But I also think these folks should lay off my wife," he told "GMA" as his wife chuckled beside him.

GMA Exclusive Video: http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=4883537

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Clark withdraws from SSU AD search

Clark withdraws from SSU consideration

Wichita State assistant athletic director Leonard Clark told The Wichita Eagle newspaper he withdrew from the athletic director search at Savannah State last week. Clark was one of three finalists for the position. The others are Bart Bellairs, Virginia Military Institute's assistant AD for operations and marketing, and Keshia Campbell, the NCAA's assistant director of championships.

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2007 Video Classics: Southern University Dancing Dolls

SU Dolls: The Hall Sisters (One night only)
SU Dancing Dolls - "Ain't no other man

SU Dancing Dolls - Sweet Escape

SU Dancing Dolls - D'Tara Feature

SU Dancing Dolls -Give it to me baby

SU Dancing Dolls (Gansta B**ch)

SU Dancing Dolls - Get It Shawty

SU Dancing Dolls - The Cupid Shuffle

SU Dancing Dolls - Suga Mama

SU Dancing Dolls - Neck

Alcorn State Fires Women Basketball Coach

On Thursday, Alcorn State Athletic Director Dr. Darren J. Hamilton announced that longtime coach Shirley A. Walker has been removed of her duties. Walker has been running the Braves program for the last thirty years and posted a record of 492-332.

In 2006, the basketball program received a one-year postseason ban and a three-year probation. The Braves lost one scholarship and had to remove all references to their 2005 NCAA Tournament appearance. The NCAA cited a lack of institutional control that included violations such as the use of ineligible players, giving improper financial-aid benefits and travel expenses, exceeding weekly practice limits, failing to provide a day off from practice each week, and allowing non-certified assistant coaches to recruit off-campus.

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Fighting an Uphill Battle...Why Division I-AA and II Get The Cold Shoulder

Next time someone mentions a Division I-AA or Division II school or player to you, research the player. Research the school. Because odds are that player is better than 90% of your favorite BCS team's roster.

I-AA Winston Salem State University had an NFL 4th Round (#103) draft pick in Defensive End, Willaim Hayes (Tennessee Titans). (Photo by Mark's Digitial Sports Photography).

What happened along the way? Back in the "Good ole' days," we saw small schools being held in, actually, high regard when it came to college football. Grambling was respected, Alcorn State, Mississippi Valley State, Jackson State, etc.

Now, when someone mentions that a Division I-AA school did this (FCS? What? Stop with that.), or a Division II did that, the first response is "Who cares?" I'll tell you who cares. Quick, name the alma maters of Steve McNair, Jerry Rice, and Walter Payton.

They were all named above.

Steve McNair, one of only a handful of college football players in history to pass for 10,000 career yards and rush for 3,000 career yards, attended Alcorn State and even made a run at a Heisman trophy.

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PVAMU Captures Emotional Win Over Southern Jaguars

BATON ROUGE, La.- The Prairie View A&M Panthers captured and emotional 5-4 victory over the Southern Jaguars in Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball action in the two team’s second meeting of the tourney.

PVAMU rallied from a 5-3 deficit to claim the win on Southern’s home turf. The win sets up a winner take all match-up where the victor will be awarded with an opportunity to participate in the SWAC’s title game where they will face Texas Southern.

PVAMU All-SWAC First Team Pitcher Wardel Taylor.

The Texas Southern Tigers remain as the only unbeaten team in tournament play as they have amassed a perfect 3-0 mark. TSU eliminated the Jackson State Tigers from title contention with a convincing 9-2 victory.

Prairie View A&M’s game versus Southern is set for 5:00 p.m. at Lee Hines field located on the campus of SU.

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UH Cougars Shamblin Pitches Perfect Game In 9-0 Win Over Delaware State

HOUSTON - University of Houston senior Angel Shamblin pitched her second perfect game of the season to guide the Cougars to a 9-0 win over Delaware State in the opening round of the 2008 NCAA Houston Softball Regional at Cougar Softball Stadium.

Houston (51-9), the No. 8 National Seed in the NCAA Championship, moved to 2-1 all-time in regional openers and 4-4 all-time in postseason play. Delaware State falls to 29-24 on the year.

Shamblin struck out 11 batters en route to the third perfect game of her career. She improves to 33-3 on the season with 17 shutouts.

The Cougar offense put up six runs in the second inning. Freshman Baillie Lott scored the first Houston run after reaching base on a walk. Junior Katie Bush hit her fourth double this season, scoring junior Jessica Valis.

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Parsons to play at NCAA Division I, MEAC and SWAC schools

As far as Snead State Community College men’s basketball coach Rodney Hampton is concerned, two members of the 2007-08 team set the standard for all Parsons to come. Brandon Bryant, of Tuscaloosa, and Gerald January, of Macon, Ga., have signed scholarships with NCAA Division I schools.

Bryant, a 6-2 guard, has signed to play with Florida A&M University, while January, a 6-7 forward, signed to play with Alabama A&M University. “Both Brandon and Gerald have really exemplified the true student-athlete. They embody the character and the skill level that coaches only dream about,” Hampton said.

“They have been good leaders here at Snead. We had a team of mostly freshmen, and under the circumstances, Brandon and Gerald have been integral parts of the team’s success over the last two years.”

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Thomas, B-CU win arms race in MEAC finals

Photo: Bethune Cookman Wildcat Justin Hoyte.

Bethune Cookman University wins MEAC Baseball Title by 13-2 score over NSU.

NORFOLK, Va. – After playing five games in the past three days in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament, fifth-seeded Norfolk State ran out of arms.

Top-seeded Bethune-Cookman was playing just its third game and had the best arm, claiming a 13-2 victory and its third straight MEAC title and 11th in the past 13 years.

Eric Thomas (9-0) was dominant for the Wildcats (36-20), going seven scoreless innings with six hits, no walks and 10 strikeouts. He threw 85 pitches, 61 for strikes.

The Spartans (25-24) had a 0.61 ERA in the first five games, but could not contain the bats of the Wildcats. Facing three pitchers in the first five innings ...

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Stadium's future now lies in Jackson State's, DFA's hands

For anyone looking seriously at the future of Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, the numbers tell the tale. The last time Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium was filled to capacity was 1984, when Alcorn State University took on Mississippi Valley State University for the 1984 SWAC championship. Alcorn beat Valley 42-28 before 63,808 fans.

Originally called Mississippi Memorial Stadium, the stadium was proposed as a 35,000-seat monument to the state's veterans of World Wars I and II. The stadium was later completed to the 46,000 seat level in the 1950s.

Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium

The stadium often had capacity crowds for Southeastern Conference games in the 1960s and 1970s - crowds swelling to the point that in 1980, the decision was made to expand the stadium by 16,500 seats to 62,500 seats. Subsequent renovations dropped the current seating to the official 60,492 seats.

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Copperas Cove's Cotton signs with Southern U.

COPPERAS COVE, Texas – Anthony Cotton became the first Copperas Cove athlete in at least 15 years to ink a scholarship primarily for track.

On Thursday morning, Cotton signed his national letter of intent to pole vault for Southern University, a Division I school in track located in Baton Rouge, La. The senior was all smiles as he soaked in the fact that he will get to go to college and do what he loves.

The choice eventually came down to Southern and Texas State, but Cotton was wowed by the family atmosphere in Baton Rouge. "When I went down there for my visit, everything about it screamed family and closeness," he said. "Being from Cove, that's what we're all about, that's what we preach."

Cotton also said academics played a role in his choice. He thought Southern placed an emphasis on being a student, which was an important issue for the pole vaulter. "You're a student first and an athlete second (at Southern)," Cotton said. They're (Southern) so adamant about that and it appeals to me greatly." Cotton plans on pursuing a degree in engineering, either mechanical or electrical.

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Defense, big hits key to Southern U victory

Archive Photo: Jaguars head coach Roger Cador (left).

The Prairie View-Southern University baseball game unfolded as just the kind of go-for-broke donnybrook that was expected, so let’s get right to the crucial sequence where Southern won the game 14-9 Saturday at Lee-Hines Field.

With amazing defense to close the fourth inning. And with two big, first-pitch hits in a four-run fifth. That span of about 20 minutes lifted SU (28-16) into today’s 1 p.m. bracket championship game at the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament.

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MVSU Devilettes falls to LSU and East Carolina in NCAA Tournament

Mississippi Valley State fell to LSU 8-0, and East Carolina 4-2 to end their SWAC Championship season at 28-28.

BATON ROUGE, La. - The East Carolina softball team defeated Mississippi Valley State, 4-2, for its first-ever NCAA Tournament victory Saturday afternoon before 945 fans at LSU's Tiger Park. The Pirates improve to 37-29 on the season and 1-1 in the Baton Rouge Regional. The Devilettes end their season at 28-28 after making their fifth appearance in the NCAA Championship.

MVSU jumped ahead in the top of the second. Angelia Jones doubled with one out which moved Megan Hays to third base. Hays had walked to lead off the inning. Then, Pirate hurler Brooke Swann unleashed a wild pitch that allowed Hays to score, putting the Devilettes ahead 1-0.

ECU responded in the bottom half of the second. Back-to-back doubles by Vanessa Moreno and Angel Barrella tied the game before Cristen Aona belted a long ball off of the scoreboard to score Barrella, making the score 3-1 in the Pirates' favor.

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FAMU Marching 100 director, Julian White, honored at roast

Photo: Dr. Julian E. White, Director of Bands and Chairman, Music Department, Florida A&M University.

A video shown Friday in honor of the director of Florida A&M University's Marching 100 showed many of the band's highlights: marching down the Champs-Elysees for the bicentennial of the French Revolution in 1989; performing at Bill Clinton's 1993 and 1997 inaugural parades; playing at the 2007 Super Bowl halftime show with singer Prince.

But it was footage of Julian White huddling with dejected band try-outs who didn't make the cut that caught the attention of many in the audience. "The measure of the man came through (when he told them) you're not going to always be successful, but you're not a failure," Rep. Curtis Richardson said. "The measure of this man is the lessons that he has taught hundreds of young band members."

About 300 people attended the roast and toast for White at the Civic Center, which also featured musical selections performed by about 60 band members. The event was put on by the Leon County Chapter of the FAMU National Alumni Association to raise money for scholarships for Leon County students to attend FAMU or the Marching 100 summer band camp.

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FAMU 2008 Wind Ensemble "To Tame the Perilous Skies"


FAMU 2008 Wind Ensemble "Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna"

NAACP selects new leader: Benjamin Todd Jealous, 35

The Rhodes scholar will become the youngest president and CEO in the 99-year history of the civil rights organization.

Benjamin Jealous, who was educated at Ord Terrace Elementary School in Seaside, Pacific Grove Middle School and York School in Monterey before becoming the only Rhodes scholar in Monterey County's history, was named president and CEO of the NAACP on Saturday.

Jealous, 35, lives in Alameda with his wife, Lia Epperson, a professor of constitutional law at Santa Clara University, and daughter, Morgan. He has been working as president of The Rosenberg Foundation, a grant-making organization that provides economic support to working people in California.

"I am tremendously excited. It's a real chance to get my generation of people — those from 25 to 45 years old — really engaged in the work of this association, and to get this association really engaged in the issues of this century," Jealous said. "This is an historic time and the association is needed, now as much as ever.

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Freire Charter's Denard will attend Morgan State

Jarrod "G" Denard is one of those brassy basketball players who never shows a hint of hesitation. That was why his college situation was driving him batty.

Owing to some earlier academic struggles, Denard, a 6-1/183 senior guard at Freire Charter and first team Philadelphia Daily News All-City honoree, was unsure where he'd be heading. But now the answer is in: right down I-95. Denard yesterday committed to Morgan State University, in Baltimore, and he's planning to sit out next season even if he qualifies for freshman eligibility.

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B-CU Advances to MEAC Title Game with 3-2 Win over North Carolina A&T

Bethune Cookman University head coach Mervyl Melendez was in awe of Aggies pitcher Marquise Frink, who struck out a career high 14 Wildcat batters. (Photo by Mark's Digital Sports Photography)

Norfolk, Va. - Joseph Gautier and Phil Enright were all but lights-out on the mound on Saturday as Bethune-Cookman University defeated North Carolina A&T State University, 3-2 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament at Marty L. Miller Baseball Field in Norfolk, Va.

B-CU (35-20) used their supreme pitching exploits in the form of Joseph "Gio" Gautier to help the Wildcats in a monster match-up with North Carolina A&T. N.C. A&T (29-29) went with Marquis Frink in return on the hill.

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Norfolk State reaches MEAC Baseball Championship Game

NSU head coach Claudell Clark has an opportunity to meet or exceed his best career record of 25-25 (2007). Win two games over Bethune Cookman--the Spartans will be MEAC Champions. The team is currently 25-23 in Clark's fourth year at the helm. (Photo by Mark's Digital Sports Photography).

Norfolk State beat Florida A&M, 5-2, sending the Rattlers home from the MEAC Tournament.

NORFOLK, Va. – The improbable ride of the Norfolk State baseball team hasn’t stopped yet. Saturday night, it punched its ticket to the next destination: the MEAC championship game.

Four different players drove in two runs, and the Spartans got another gritty pitching performance in routing North Carolina A&T, 10-5, at Marty L. Miller Field. NSU will face top-seeded Bethune-Cookman at 2 p.m. Sunday with the unenviable task of having to beat the Wildcats not once but twice to earn the conference title and a berth in the NCAA Regionals.

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FAMU law-school graduate follows in his grandfather's footsteps

52 years later, FAMU graduate follows in grandfather's footsteps

Fred Wallace spends his days and nights plowing through law books and computer files as he prepares for his first shot at The Florida Bar exam in July.

The marathon reading sessions are exhausting. But Wallace, one of the newest graduates of Florida A&M University's Orlando law school, knows he can turn to one of the school's first and oldest graduates for encouragement -- his 82-year-old grandfather Jennings Best.

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North Carolina A&T stops FAMU in 9th

NORFOLK, Va. – It was just like the day before -- bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning. This time, FAMU became the victim, losing 6-4 to North Carolina A&T this afternoon in the MEAC baseball tournament.

Nick Rogers delivered the blow that dropped FAMU to 1-1 in the tournament. The Aggies move on to face Bethune-Cookman University on Saturday afternoon.

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Norfolk State fights back against Maryland-Eastern Shore

NORFOLK, Va. – As the ball rolled under his glove and into left-center field, Norfolk State shortstop Moriba George dropped his chin to his chest in frustration.

After a heart-breaking loss to North Carolina A&T on Thursday, the last thing George wanted to do was commit an error to spot Maryland Eastern-Shore a lead. But that’s exactly what happened in Friday’s elimination game in the MEAC Tournament at Marty L. Miller Field.

But George and the Spartans redeemed themselves and stayed alive with a 7-2 victory. The Spartans were scheduled to play Delaware State in another elimination game later in the evening.

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Southern trounces Alabama State, 14-4 behind Talbot

Southern University baseball coach Roger Cador went with experience over youth when choosing his starting pitcher.

Given a chance in the clutch, though, youth proved far superior Thursday night.

After senior Chris Donaby struggled, freshman Jordan Talbot came in with an amazing performance, easily his best of the year, leading SU to a 14-4, mercy-rule-shortened win over Alabama State in the first round of the Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball tournament at Lee-Hines Field.

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Mitchell named Southern University football assistant

Southern football coach Pete Richardson has turned to former free safety Jackie Mitchell to be the team’s new defensive backs coach. Mitchell played linebacker for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League but has no full-time coaching experience.

“He should help us out a lot as far as knowing what to expect on defense and also experience-wise,” Richardson said. “He’s been a professional athlete, so he can help us out on the details.”

Mitchell spent seven years in the CFL, making the CFL All-Star team in 2003, and also had stints as a free agent in the NFL, playing for the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers.

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Grambling to hire Rick Duckett as Men's Basketball Coach

Photo: Grambling State University head men's basketball coach Rick Duckett (Photo by USC SID).

GRAMBLING, LA — Grambling State athletics director Troy Mathieu has announced the selection of Rick Duckett, formerly of the University of South Carolina and a previous NCAA Division II South Atlantic Coach of the Year, as the new head men's basketball coach at Grambling State University. His selection is subject to administrative approval from the Board of Supervisors of the University of Louisiana System.

Coach Duckett served the last six years as an assistant coach at the University of South Carolina under Dave Odom, who recently retired. Duckett served as a head basketball coach at both Winston Salem State University and Fayetteville State University, respectively.

At WSSU, Duckett compiled a record of 73-19, winning two CIAA Titles in three years, prior to moving on to South Carolina and the SEC.

Despite Duckett's success, his one year FSU annual contract was not renewed by athletic director Horace Small in a move that bewildered and angered many members of the Bronco's athletic department. The firing was recorded as one of the all-time dumbest action in FSU history. Duckett left FSU with a 76-57 record in five seasons with one Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association division championship. His 57.1 winning percentage is the highest of any Fayetteville State men’s basketball coach since the school joined the CIAA in 1954 and his final season ended with a 17-10 record.

Here is what South Carolina had to say about Coach Duckett...

An exciting coach to watch on the court because of his love the game, Rick Duckett must have been born with a basketball in his hands.

Rick Duckett is in his sixth season with the Gamecocks. Duckett was head coach at Winston-Salem State for three seasons prior to coming to Carolina and is in his second stint on the USC staff after serving in the same capacity for Bill Foster for the 1985-86 season.

Duckett is responsible for recruiting, scouting, working with the perimeter players in practice, overseeing the academic area for the student-athletes and is the Director of the Offensive Skills Camp in the summer.

Duckett, who also was the head coach at Fayetteville State for five seasons, combines with the rest of the Gamecock staff to give USC three coaches with head coaching experience. Along with Odom (18 years at Wake Forest, East Carolina and South Carolina) and Duckett (eight years at W-S State and Fayetteville State), assistant coach Ricky Stokes was head coach at Virginia Tech for four seasons, giving the USC staff a combined 30 seasons of head coaching experience.

Duckett had a remarkable record at Winston-Salem State in his three seasons there. He led the squad to a combined 73-19 mark Lower right: while capturing the CIAA championship in 1999 and 2000. Duckett had a five-year mark of 76-57 at Fayetteville State (1994-98, leaving his eight-year head coaching tally at an impressive 149-76 (.662). In both 1999 and 2000, Duckett earned the CIAA Tournament Coaches Award, and he also was the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Coach of the Year in 1999.

Duckett earned a Bachelor's degree in Education from the University of North Carolina in 1979 and a Master's degree in Education in 1980 from UNC. In his time at UNC, he served as an undergraduate assistant for the Tar Heels and went on to become the junior varsity coach and a graduate assistant coach during the 1979-80 season.

He continued his coaching career the following season, spending two years as an assistant at Harvard (1981-82) before returning to his high school alma mater, R.J. Reynolds, as assistant coach for one season (1983). He spent one season at Jacksonville University (1984) and at the University of Central Florida (1985) before serving one season on the staff of Bill Foster at South Carolina (1986). Duckett then spent six seasons as an assistant at Wichita State (1987-92), helping lead the Shockers to two NCAA Tournament appearances and an NIT showing. Prior to his head coaching assignment at Fayetteville State (1994-98), he returned to R.J. Reynolds High as an assistant coach for one season (1993).

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